Chapter 25
It was dark and Martin suggested they go to a restaurant, mentioning that he 'just happened' to have a reservation. They arrived at Rick Stein's and went inside. Louisa's eyes shone up at Martin's "You sly thing, you knew about this didn't you?"
"Hm, I booked earlier. We were lucky to get the table. Someone else had cancelled shortly before I rang."
She gave his hand a squeeze as they waited to be seated. She did have the thought, "fish again" but stifled it and waited for the menu. Perusing the menu, she saw that there were a couple of dishes which didn't contain fish and so she opted for the Sri-Lankan Cashew Nut Curry with a side of garden salad. Martin, of course couldn't resist the fish, and joined Louisa's curry theme with Indonesian Seafood Curry and the same side. Neither wanted a starter.
They both opted for sparkling water as their drink. Louisa looked around with interest as they waited for their dinners to arrive. "Have you been here before, Martin?"
"Once or twice, yes. I've always enjoyed what I've had. Most of the dishes are not soaking in fat and as I like raw fish too their sashimi is excellent. However, I don't recommend it to you for the time being."
"Why not?"
"Raw fish, if not well looked after and refrigerated, can cause stomach upsets, and that's the last thing you need."
"Oh, I see what you mean. Maybe we could come back once Junior has arrived?" she asked hopefully.
He looked at her pleading face and was lost. "We'll see," he said.
As they ate their food, Louisa tried some of Martin's curry, but he declined to try hers. He explained that the curry flavour on his was quite pronounced and that he wouldn't taste hers properly. She saw what he meant when she went back to her milder curry. It took a few mouthfuls to take away the taste of the Indonesian.
They asked for tea to finish their meal and discussed the next few days. Christmas Eve would see them at home, by themselves. Christmas day was the day for their meal at Joan's and the giving of presents. Boxing day would see a brief visit to the pub at lunchtime (very brief if Martin had his way!) before heading back to the privacy of their home.
A scaled back surgery would open for half a day until the weekend. Full resumption of hours after New Year's Day. In previous years Martin had opened for all his allotted hours but now, he reasoned, he had a family to take care of. He'd also been on call for both festive days. This was why he'd asked Dr Lewis for time away from being on call at Christmas. Next year Lewis would take Christmas time off and Martin would take New Year.
When they got back Martin put the kettle on for another cup of tea and then settled down to read his BMJ's. Louisa opted for another book.
On Christmas Eve Louisa was excitedly waiting for the evening when they would exchange cards, and she would give him his 'future present'. As expected, the surgery closed early and Martin heaved a sigh of relief. Odd how there weren't so many people to see, before Christmas. Too wrapped up in preparing for the seasonal gluttony and drinking, he thought cynically.
He'd just put the last of his files away when his phone went. "Ellingham," he said and listened as a small voice said "Doc Martin, me Mam's on the floor and she won't get up."
Martin smothered his exasperation when he realised it was a child speaking. "Hello, I'm listening. What is your name?"
"L-L-Lucy" came the soft reply.
"Do you know what your second name is?"
"Dunno."
"I'm Martin Ellingham and you are Lucy " he left the question hanging.
"Lucy Granger."
"What is wrong with your mother? Is she talking now?"
"No, she's fell downstairs and she's moaning," Lucy explained.
"Alright Lucy, I'm coming now. Can you tell me where you live?"
"Margaret's Lane, number 15."
"Thank you, Lucy, I won't be long. Mrs Ellingham from the school will be with me."
He put the phone down, hurried to his filing cabinet and got the Granger notes. Luckily, they had been his patients since he arrived in Portwenn. He scanned through Mrs Granger's file but could see no obvious reason for a fall. Picking up his bag he told Louisa to get her coat on and come with him.
She hastily complied and went around to the car." Where are we going, Martin?"
Putting the car in gear he told her about Mrs Granger's fall and that her daughter, Lucy had called him. He needed Louisa to comfort the child should that prove necessary.
"Oh Martin, Lucy's only eight!"
Arriving at the door, Martin knocked, but got no reply. He called through the letterbox, "Lucy, it's me, Dr Ellingham. Can you open the door, please?"
Lucy said "No, but the backdoor's open." Louisa and Martin went around to the rear of the property. She went in first so that Lucy could see her. Martin hurried to the woman's side.
"Mrs Granger, can you hear me?" He was rewarded with another groan. Quickly he assessed her condition. There didn't appear to be any broken bones, but if the lump on her head was anything to go by, she'd taken quite a tumble. "Mrs Granger, open your eyes for me." He saw her eyelids flutter as she struggled to open them.
"What's happened? Why are you here?" Then, on a rising note of panic, "Where's Lucy?"
"Lucy's with my wife, Louisa, in the kitchen. She's safe. You appear to have fallen down the stairs, no don't move for a minute. There's quite a lump on your forehead. Do you know if you've hurt an arm or leg?"
Mrs Granger wriggled her fingers and then slightly moved her legs. "No, I don't think so." Martin took her arm and said "Try and sit up, but slowly, and stop immediately if you feel any further pain." She complied and managed to sit up with Martin guiding her.
"Ooh, my head hurts." She put a hand up and winced as her fingers encountered the bump.
Louisa came into the hall with Lucy. "Mam, Mam are you all right now?"
Mrs Granger looked at her daughter and said she was feeling a lot better, now. "You were a good girl to get the Doc." Lucy's smile was wobbly and then she burst into tears.
Martin indicated for Louisa to take the girl away again. Then he turned his attention back to his patient. "Mrs Granger, I'm going to shine a light into your eyes. Can you look straight ahead for me?"
Her pupils contracted normally and, when asked, she could follow his finger from side to side. "I think you have a slight concussion and because of the bruising I'd like you to go to hospital for an X-ray. Is there someone who can look after Lucy for you?"
"My sister, Karen. She lives in the next road. The number's on the pad over there."
Martin found the number and quickly called Karen Pritchard. He then explained what had happened and asked if she would be prepared to look after Lucy, possibly overnight too. Karen promised to come straight away.
Returning his attention to his patient, "I'm going to call an ambulance to take you to the hospital, Mrs Granger. Your sister is coming round to look after Lucy. Now, do you think you can get up and sit on this chair until they arrive?"
He helped her onto the chair and stepped back. Lucy came back into the hall with Louisa in tow.
"Well done Lucy for ringing me. It was very important that you did that. Now, an ambulance will come to take your Mam to hospital, but your Auntie Karen is coming to look after you." At that there was a knock on the door and Louisa opened it to admit Karen Pritchard.
"Elsie, what's happened?" she exclaimed. Before Martin could explain anything, Elsie Granger told her sister "Caught my foot in that carpet and fell down the stairs, didn't I. Proper bang it was. Just look at the lump on me head!"
Martin then explained about Elsie going to hospital in an ambulance for an X-ray and check-up. "I can't say that there is no internal bleed in her head and this will show up on the X-ray if there is. Hopefully Mrs Granger will be released tonight, or if there is cause for concern, she'll be kept in overnight. Now, can you stay with Lucy and look after her?"
"Yes, we can lock up 'ere when I've got some clean clothes and she can come to my 'ouse. She turned to Louisa, thanks for coming Mrs Ellingham. I'm sure it was good for Lucy to see a friendly face. Oh, er not that you're not a friendly face Doc."
"Hm." Martin was saved any further reply by the sound of the ambulance drawing up outside. He went out to explain the situation and then showed the paramedics inside. Mrs Granger was helped into the ambulance and Martin collected his bag. He and Louisa watched as they went off to hospital. "Will you be able to take over now, Mrs Pritchard?"
"Yeah Doc. I can manage. Come on Lucy, you show me where your nightie is and we'll go and get some tea, at mine." They retreated back inside.
Martin and Louisa got in their car to go home. "Well done, Martin. You were very kind to Lucy, in there."
"Despite what the villagers may think, Louisa, I'm not an ogre, I do have some sensibility!" he snapped at her.